Firewood Sales Soar as Winter Tightens its Grip in KP
APP
Peshawar: In the icy grip of winter, firewood sales in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have surged, bringing a renewed smile to 72-year-old Amanullah Khan.
His wood business, nestled along the GT Road in Pabbi, Nowshera, is thriving amid plummeting temperatures and rising demand for alternative heating sources.
Amid the sharp chill, Amanullah and his five laborers work tirelessly to meet the rising demand from households, tandoors, hotels, and marriage halls. His sons also lend a hand, bundling timber from endangered species such as shisham, ber, kikar, and neem on his sprawling two-acre firewood yard.
“The price of a 50kg mound of firewood ranges from Rs700 to Rs800, depending on the timber’s quality,” Amanullah explained, adding that December and January see a significant spike in demand due to natural gas shortages and soaring LPG prices.
Deforestation Fuels Demand
The high demand for firewood highlights a troubling trend: rampant deforestation. Visitors along the GT Road between Tarnab, Peshawar, and Azakhel, Nowshera, are greeted by the sight of uprooted trunks and cut timber at various wood yards.
According to the National Forest Policy 2015, Pakistan’s total forest cover is a mere 5% of its land area. The country loses around 27,000 hectares of forests annually, primarily from private and community-owned lands.
This alarming rate of deforestation is exacerbating environmental issues, including land degradation, biodiversity loss, and reduced agricultural yields.
Deforestation has also magnified the impacts of climate change, contributing to devastating floods such as those in 2010 and 2022. The depletion of forests in watershed areas has severely affected water availability, agriculture, and wildlife.
Global Perspective & Local Challenges
Globally, the deforestation rate is equally concerning. Tauheedul Haq, a former conservator of forests, stated that 10 million hectares of forest are lost annually worldwide, equivalent to the size of Portugal. While half of this loss is mitigated through forest regeneration, the net loss remains staggering at 5 million hectares per year.
In Pakistan, overpopulation, poverty, and unsustainable logging practices are major drivers of deforestation. The population, which was 37 million at the time of independence in 1947, has surged to 223 million in 2022 and is projected to reach 330 million by 2050.
This population explosion intensifies demand for firewood and agricultural land, placing immense pressure on natural resources.
Tauheed further pointed out the impact of the influx of over 4 million Afghan refugees since 1979, who extensively logged forests in KP and the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Despite the significant environmental damage, international support for forest restoration in these areas has been negligible.
The Economic & Social Toll
Firewood accounts for 68 percent of forest usage in Pakistan, while 15 percent of trees are lost to urbanization and community-driven demands.
With an overwhelming reliance on forest resources for heating and cooking, sustainable energy alternatives remain underutilized.
“Without a shift to alternative energy sources such as solar, hydroelectric, and wind, Pakistan risks losing its remaining forests within a few decades,” warned Tauheed. He called for a national ‘green emergency’ to protect the country’s dwindling forest reserves.
Wajid Ali Khan, a former minister for environment and forests, criticized the lack of political will to tackle deforestation. “Instead of focusing on curbing the timber mafia, policymakers are often preoccupied with political agitation,” he said.
Khan also alleged that thousands of trees planted under the Billion Tree Afforestation Project were prematurely cut in KP, undermining the initiative’s success.
Forest Protection
Under the KP Forest Ordinance 2002, the Forest Force was established to combat illegal logging and timber smuggling.
Equipped with police-like powers, the force can arrest offenders, seize smuggled timber, and conduct operations against the timber mafia. Checkposts have also been set up along highways and roads in merged areas to curb smuggling.
Experts have recommended establishing special forest courts for speedy trials of offenders, enhancing the Forest Force’s mobility, and modernizing communication systems to strengthen forest protection.
A Path Forward
To combat deforestation and address the rising demand for firewood, experts advocate for:
Expanding access to affordable and sustainable energy sources such as solar, biomass, and wind to reduce reliance on firewood.
Accelerating reforestation programs and strengthening forest conservation policies.
Encouraging local communities to adopt sustainable practices and participate in forest management.
Collaborating with Afghanistan to curb cross-border timber smuggling.
As winter tightens its grip, the firewood trade remains a lifeline for many in KP. However, unchecked deforestation poses a significant threat to the environment, economy, and future generations. Addressing this issue requires immediate and coordinated action to protect Pakistan’s “green gold.”
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